Grain-separator.



No. 783,603. PATENTED PEB."23, 1905. J. K. WHITE.

GRADI SEPARATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 18, 1904.

l, frimll I! :mi: JI'I'I. "VIII VKP?. l

I (T14 O l No. 783,603. PATENTED FEB. 28, 1905. J. K. WHITE.

GRAIN SEPARATR.

APPLICATION HLBD MAR. 1a, 1904.

2 SHEBTS-SHEET 2.

tra, 783,603.,

latentec'l li'ebruary 28, 1905.

irritiert,

JAMES K. iVlflllE, UF MANSFIELU, OlllU.

GHAIINWSEPAWTOETL SPECIFICATIDN forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,608, ated February 28, 1905.

Application filed March 18, 1904. Serial No. 198,726.

Be it known that 1, JAMns K. VViiirrn, a citi- Zen ofthe United States, and a residentof Mansfield, Richland county, State of Ohio, have in' vented certain new and useful VImprovements in Grain-Separators; and my preferred manner of carrying out the invention is set forth in the following` full, clear, and exactdescription, terminating with claims particularly specifying' the novelty.

This invention relates to threshing, and more especially to those machinesl employed in the art which are known as separatorsg and the object of the same is to separate the straw from the chaff and the chaff from the grain by rotary mechanism in a more effective manner than hitherto.

To this end the invention consists in a separator shaped practically like an inverted um brella and employing in its selviarating meehanism the combined force of centrifugal power and of suction simultaneously produced by the rotation of a single element.

To this end the invention consists in a machine constructed substantially as hereinafter described and claimed and as set 'forth in the drawings, whereinAA-A- Figure l is a central vertical section of this separator complete. Fig. ll is a side view of the same. Fig. lll is a plan view showing portions of the top of the easing` broken ani'ay. Fig. lV is a side vie\\i','and VFig. V a plan view, of the rotating element.

ln the drawiiigs the nmneral 1 designates a framework supportinga easing, whose fixed body 2 is shaped like an inverted cone and whose top 3 (preferably removable to permit access to the interior of the machine) is shaped like a truncated cone or large ringl .cut radially at one point and sprung out of its plane to produce the exit, the side wall of the body at its upper edge being shaped to conform with the outer edge of this ring and assist in producing' said exit for a purpose to appear below. Fixed within and depeniiling from said top is a hopper Lf, whose walls converge downward from the inner edge of said ring to a large circular mouth 5. Beneath the higher end of said ring-top 3 at the point of exit, as

shown in Fig. lil, are located two upright partitions 6, which divide the exit into three channels at radially different distances from the center; and the object of the present inn vention is to feed out of the outermost exit the waste grain, out of the intermediate exit the chaff, and out of the innermost exit the straw, the cleaned grain beingmeanwhile delivered at the lower end of the machine, as set lforth below.

The rotating element of thisl separator is shown in several views. An upright shaft l() is mounted in a suitable bearing or step 1lA in the frann-zwork l and is driven by power applied at any suitable point either above or below. Vifithin the casing, about midway of its height, there is fixed upon its shaft a spider l2, whose radiating arms support the ehafl' hopper or tube 13, which coneentrically surrounds the shaft, is preferably cy lindrieal, and is `furthermore connected therewith by an in terior spiral plate or strip ist, whose convolun tions are pitched in such direction that inthe rotation of this member it will produce a down ward suction throug'h said hopper or tube. lt will be obvious that chaff and grain fed into this tube and drawn downward by the spiral will be delivered through said spider l2 and (if there were ne other force applied to it) would fall downward within the conical casingZ and drop out its lower end or mouth i5 in an unseparated condition, and for the. pui'- pose of producing the selniration of these elements, as wel] as to reniove the longer straw which is usually fed into the machine, l provide the following additional devices:

Carried, preferably, bythe rotating hopper l?) are a series of fan-blades 2li, preferably standing in vertical planes and preferably tangential to the hopper, with their outer ends inclined `forward toward the direction in which they will rotate, whereby in operation they cut or churn through the material which is dropped through the main hopper Li.

21 is a ring connecting' and bracingl the outer ends of these blades, and the walls of this ring diverge downward about parallel with and slightly remote from the walls of the body EZ, the space between these members being sufficient to cause them to clear each other. rotating element and cuttingl through these fan-blades near their upper edges is what .l will call a partition 22. ltis of ring shape, its inner edge forming a circle surrounding and somewhat larger than the diameter of the chaff-hopper 13 and its outer edge (which is y possibly elevated slightly) alining quiteaccurately with the inner partition 6 in the outlet through the easing-top 3. The function of this rotating partition is to separate the straw from the chaff and grain and cause the former to pass out of the straw-outlet. It is obvious that when the material to be separated is fed in through the main hopper 4 the grain and some of the chaff will be sucked down by the inner spiral 14 through the chaff-hopper 13, while the straw and the longer chafil will be caught by the upper edges of the fan-blades, and by the centrifugal force thus imparted will be thrown outward over the partition and driven out the straw-exit. lt therefore remains only to separate the chaff from the grain.

Cutting' through the fan-blades beneath the partition above described is an outer spiral plate or strip 30, which I call a spiral because its convolutions are pitched in a direction to produce an upward suction within the ring 21. rlhese convolutions are shown as individuallyv inclined outward and downward, although individually they might be horizontal; but it is desirable that the general plane of the inner convolution shall be lower and those outside of it respectively higher and higher as they approach the interior of the ring, and, moreover, the convolutions should lap lioint with each other slightly. The effect of this detail of construction when the rotating element is rapidly revolved is to set up an upward suction within the ring and beneath the partition, and hence the chaff and grain which has been sucked down through the chaff-hopper is irnmediately sucked upward and outward by the outer spiral. Passing up within the ring 21 the kernels of the grain are struck by the convolutions of the outer spiral and thrown outward against said ring, this action being' enhanced by the greater weight of said kernels, and the result is that the waste grain will pass out the waste-grain exit in the casingtop 3, while the chaff will pass out the intermediate eXit therein.

The fact that the outer spiral revolves in a larger circle than the inner will cause it to rotate at a greater speed though driven by the same shaft, and hence there will be a greater upward suction outside of the chali`-hopper than there is a downward suction within it. The result will be an upward draft of air through the mouth 15, and against the force of this draft almost absolutely nothing but cleaned kernels of grain will fall. Provision Under some Standing nearly horizontal within the circumstances also it may be desirable to place a ring-shaped partition 160 within the body 2 beneath the spider and closely around the shaft which supports the chaff-hopper, and the presence of this ring bottom will check and deflect upward the downwardly-passing chaff and grain. l have also shown in the drawings a feature which may possibly be dispensed with. This consists of a number of tines 1T() radiating' from the hopper 13, preferably bent upward and rotating within the main hopper et, their purpose being to break up the long straw which is fed thereinto.

In operation the machine is set up, a bag or clean-grain receptacle placed beneath the mouth 15, and chutes connected with the three side outlets, after which rotary motion is imparted to the main shaft 10. The material to be separated is thrown into the hopper 4L, around and outside of the shaft-hopper13. lf the tines 170 are employed, this material is immediately broken up and given a whirling motion, and the suction produced by the inner spiral assists this motion in drawing the material downward through the mouth 5 upon the rotating' element. Here the upper edges of the fan-blades catch the broken-up straw and impart to it a radial motion, and the centrifugal force thus set up drives it out over the partition 22 and finally passes it out the straw exit. Meanwhile the chaff and grain drop through vthe fairblades, (and the chadl andgrain which have been fed intothe chaff-hopper for recleaning drop through the spider,) and the upward suction produced by the outer spiral draws them upward and out-V ward assisted by centrifugal force. The latter acts strongest upon the particles which are heaviest, and hence the grain is more likely to slide up the inner face of the ring 21, and in addition such kernels as are struck by the outer spiral are 'forcibly thrown against such face, the result being that most of the kernels are driven out of the waste-grain exit. Meanwhile the lighter particles of chaff are carried around and upward and outward by the same forces and pass out the chaff-exit. Finally, only those kernelswhich have been thoroughly cleansed will drop through the funnel-shaped body 2 and out the mouth 15 against the inrush of air through that mouth, which is produced by the rotation of the outer spiral, and even this may be avoided by inserting the removable bottom 160, for the eareful operator generally recleans the grain which passes out the waste-exit. rlhis will be done by returning it to the machine and feeding it into the chaff-hopper 13, as above mentioned.

l have refrained from stating the sizes, shapes, proportions, and materials of parts because they are not important to the successful operation of the machine. It is also obvious that changes in details and omission and substitution of features can be indulged raaeea in to a c msiderable extent without iileparting from the spirit of my invention. lt may not be necessary to employ both spirals in one machine. It is possible that the partition might be omitted. As stated above, the tines are only sometimes employed, and various other changes in detail will suggest themselves to the practical operator.

`l'Vhat is claimed as new is@ l. ,ln a grain-separator, the combination with a casing comlirising a. body and a top, the latter being a ring cut radially with its ends sprung out of register to form an exit, and a main-hopper opening through said top; of a rotating element mounted on a central vertical shaft within the casing and carrying a series of substantially upright fan-blades, and a spiral plateconnected with the blades and rotated by the shaft for prod ucing` an upward and outward suction within the casingl remote from said shaft.

2. Vln a grainseparaten the combination with a casing comprising a body and a top, the latter being a ring eut radially with vits ends sprui'ig out of register to form an exit. and a mairrhopi'ier opening tlu'ough said top; of a ro tating element mounted on a central vertical shaft within the casing' and carrying a series of substantially upright fan-blades, and two spi ral plates for producingl a downward suction inlnualiatel.1 around said shaft and an upward and outward suction within the casing remote from the shaft. said plates being connected with the blades at different distances from the shaft and rotated bodily by the latter.

3. ln a grain-separator, the combination with a casing coniprising a body and atop, the latter being a ring cut radially with its ends sprung out of register to form an exit, and a mainho1iiper openingl through said top; of a rotatil'ig element mounted on a central vertical shaft within the casing and carrying a series of substantially upright fanblades, a tubular chaff -hopper surrounding said shaft, and means for producing a downward suction within such hopper.

4. ln a grain-separator, the combination with a casing romprisinga body and a top, the latter beii'ig a ring cut radially with its ends spri'mg out of register to form an exit, and a niaii'i-holriper openingthrough said top'; of a rotatingelementmounted on a central vertical shaft within the casing and carrying a series of substantially upright fan-blades, a tubular ehaiiihopper surroinnling said shaft, mea-ns for produciltgl a downward suction within such hopper, and means for simultaneously 'producing an upward and outward suction exterior of this hopper.

5. .ln a grain-seijiaraton the combination with a casingl having a plurality of tangential exits, and a main hopper; of an upright shaft journaled through the axis of the casing, upright fan-blades carried by the shaft, 4a ring tating within the easing, and a spiral carried by the blades and pitched to create an upward suction.

6. lin a grain-separator, the combination with a casing having a plurality of tangential exits, and a main hopper; of an upright shaft iournalcd through tl i axis of the casing, upright fan-blades carried by the shaft, a ringl uniting the outer ends of said blades and rotating within the casing, a spiral plate carried by the blades and pitched to create an upward suction, the inner convolution of said spiral plate being lowest and its outer convolutions successively higher and higher, for the purpose set forth.

7. Yln a gl'ain-sepa1'ator, the coi'nbination with a casing having a plurality of tangential exits, and a main hopper; of an upright shaft journaled through the axis of the casing, upright.fan-blades carried by the shaft, a ring uniting the outer ends o f said blade.' and rotating' within the casing, a spiral plate carried by the blades and pitched to create an uy'iward suction, and a substantially horizontal parti tion carried by the blades and extending from their outer edges adjacent said exit part way toward their inner ends, as and for the purpose set forth.

8. Vln a grain-s marator. the combination with a casing having a plurality of tangential exits, and a main hopper; of an uprigl'it shaft jonrnaled through the axis of the casing. upright fan-blades carried by the shaft, a ring uniting the outer ends of said blades and ro tating` within the casing, a spiral plate carried by the bladesand pitched to create an upward suction, the inner convolntions of said spiral plate being lowest and its outer convolutions successively higher and higher, and a partition carried by and cutting through the fan blades above said spiral plate with its outer edge standing adjacent said outlet, as and for the purpose set forth.

9. AIn a grain-separator, the combination with a casing' having a plurality of tangential exits. partitions between them, and a main hopper; of an upright shaft liournaled through the axis of the casing. upright fan-blades carried by the shaft, and a partition cutting' through the fan-blades and rotated thereby with its outer edge ai'ljacent the innermost partition at said exit, and means within said outlet for directii'ig the straw upward and outward above said partition and the grain and chaff upward and outward beneath the partition, substantially as described.

10. ln a grairl-separator, the comlgiination with a casing of inverted conical shape, a cover comprising a ring split radially with its ends sprung so as to produce an exit, partitions producing divisions in this exit, and a lixed hopper carried by said ring; of an upright shaft rotating in the axis of the casing, a spiral plate connected with and rotated by this uniting the outer ends of said blades and ro I shaft and pitched to produce upward and out- IOO IIO

ward suction, and a partition also connected vwith the shaft and rotating in unison with the spiral plate with its outer edge adjacent the inner edge of the innermost partition within said exit.

11. In a grain-separator, the combination with a casing of inverted conical shape, acover comprising a ring split radially with its ends sprung so as to produce an exit, partitions producing divisions in this exit, and a fixed hopper carried by said ring; of an upright shaft rotating in the axis of the casing, a tubular chaff-hopper carried by the shaft, a spiral plate connected with and rotated by this hopper and pitched to produce upward and outward suction, a partition connected and rotating in unison with the spiral plate with its outer edge adjacent the inner edge of the innermost partition within said exit, and a removable bottom located within the casing, for the purpose set forth.

12. In a grain-separator, the combination with a casing of inverted conical shape, a cover comprising a ring split radially with its ends sprung so as to produce an exit, partitions producing divisions in this exit, and a fixed hopper carried by said ring; of an upright shaft rotating in the axis of the casing, a tubular chaff-hopper carried by the shaft, substantially upright fan-blades leading from the chaff-hopper outward, a spiral plate cutting through said blades and pitched to produce upward and outward suction, and a partition rotating in unison with the spiral plate with its outer edge adjacent the inner edge of the innermost partition within said exit.

13. In a grain-separator, the combination with acasingof inverted conical shape, acover comprising a ring split radially with its ends sprung so as to produce an exit, partitions producing divisions in this exit, and a fixed hopper carried by said ring; of an upright shaft rotating in the axis of the casing, a tubular chaff -hopper carried by the shaft, fanbladcs leading tangentially from said chaffhopper outward, a ring connecting their outer ends, a spiral plate carried by the blades and pitched to produce upward and outward suction, and a partition rotating in unison with the spiral plate with its outer edge adjacent the inner edge of the innermost partition within said exit.

14. In a grain-separator, the combination with a casing of inverted conical shape, a cover comprising' a ring split radially with its ends sprung so as to produce an exit, partitions producing divisions in this exit, and a fixed hopper carried by said ring; of an upright shaft rotating in the axis of the casing, a tubular chaff-hopper carried by the shaft, a spiral plate connected with and rotated by this hopper and pitched to produce upward and outward suction, a partition rotatingI in unison with the spiral plate with its outer edge adjacentthe inner edge of the innermost partition within said exit, and a series of radial tines carried by the chaff-hopper and rotating within the main hopper.

15. In a grain-separator, the combination with a casing of inverted conical shape, a cover comprising a ring split radially with its ends sprung so as to produce an exit, and a fixed hopper carried by said ring; of an upright shaft rotating in the axis of the casing, atubular ci1aff-hopper carried bythe shaft, fanblades leading tangentially from said chadhopper outward, a ring connecting their outer ends, and a spiral plate carried by the blades and pitched to produce upward and outward suction.

16. In a grain-separator, the combination with acasing of inverted conical shape, a cover comprising a ring split radially with its ends sprung so as to produce an exit, partitions producing divisions in this exit, and a fixed hopper carried by said ring; of an upright shaft rotating in the axis of the casing, atubular chaff-hopper carried by the shaft, a spiral plate connected with and rotated by this hopper and pitched to produce upward and outward suction, and a partition rotating in unison with the spiral plate with its outer edge adjacent the inner edge of the innermost partition within said exit.

17. In a grain-separator, the combination with a casing of inverted conical shape, a cover comprising a ring split radially with its ends sprung so as to produce an exit, and a fixed hopper carried by said ring; of an upright shaft rotating in the axis of the casing, atubular chaff-hopper carried by the shaft, a spiral plate pitched to produce upward and outward suction, and connections between the spiral plate and chaff-hopper.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my signature this the 10th day of March, A. D. 190%.

JAMES K.- WHITE.

iVitnesses:

GEORGE MooRHoUsn, 1V. S. BRADFORD.

IOO 

